don quixote(堂·吉珂德)-第59节
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calling aloud to them。 They went to meet him； and in answer to their
inquiries about Don Quixote； be told them how he had found him
stripped to his shirt； lank； yellow； half dead with hunger； and
sighing for his lady Dulcinea； and although he had told him that she
commanded him to quit that place and come to El Toboso； where she
was expecting him； he had answered that he was determined not to
appear in the presence of her beauty until he had done deeds to make
him worthy of her favour； and if this went on； Sancho said； he ran the
risk of not becoming an emperor as in duty bound； or even an
archbishop； which was the least he could be； for which reason they
ought to consider what was to be done to get him away from there。
The licentiate in reply told him not to be uneasy； for they would
fetch him away in spite of himself。 He then told Cardenio and Dorothea
what they had proposed to do to cure Don Quixote； or at any rate
take him home； upon which Dorothea said that she could play the
distressed damsel better than the barber； especially as she had
there the dress in which to do it to the life； and that they might
trust to her acting the part in every particular requisite for
carrying out their scheme； for she had read a great many books of
chivalry； and knew exactly the style in which afflicted damsels begged
boons of knights…errant。
〃In that case；〃 said the curate； 〃there is nothing more required
than to set about it at once； for beyond a doubt fortune is
declaring itself in our favour； since it has so unexpectedly begun
to open a door for your relief； and smoothed the way for us to our
object。〃
Dorothea then took out of her pillow…case a complete petticoat of
some rich stuff； and a green mantle of some other fine material； and a
necklace and other ornaments out of a little box； and with these in an
instant she so arrayed herself that she looked like a great and rich
lady。 All this； and more； she said； she had taken from home in case of
need； but that until then she had had no occasion to make use of it。
They were all highly delighted with her grace； air； and beauty； and
declared Don Fernando to be a man of very little taste when he
rejected such charms。 But the one who admired her most was Sancho
Panza； for it seemed to him （what indeed was true） that in all the
days of his life he had never seen such a lovely creature； and he
asked the curate with great eagerness who this beautiful lady was； and
what she wanted in these out…of…the…way quarters。
〃This fair lady； brother Sancho；〃 replied the curate； 〃is no less
a personage than the heiress in the direct male line of the great
kingdom of Micomicon； who has come in search of your master to beg a
boon of him； which is that he redress a wrong or injury that a
wicked giant has done her； and from the fame as a good knight which
your master has acquired far and wide； this princess has come from
Guinea to seek him。〃
〃A lucky seeking and a lucky finding！〃 said Sancho Panza at this；
〃especially if my master has the good fortune to redress that
injury； and right that wrong； and kill that son of a bitch of a
giant your worship speaks of； as kill him he will if he meets him；
unless； indeed； he happens to be a phantom； for my master has no power
at all against phantoms。 But one thing among others I would beg of
you； senor licentiate； which is； that； to prevent my master taking a
fancy to be an archbishop； for that is what I'm afraid of； your
worship would recommend him to marry this princess at once； for in
this way he will be disabled from taking archbishop's orders； and will
easily come into his empire； and I to the end of my desires； I have
been thinking over the matter carefully； and by what I can make out
I find it will not do for me that my master should become an
archbishop； because I am no good for the Church； as I am married；
and for me now； having as I have a wife and children； to set about
obtaining dispensations to enable me to hold a place of profit under
the Church； would be endless work； so that； senor； it all turns on
my master marrying this lady at once… for as yet I do not know her
grace； and so I cannot call her by her name。〃
〃She is called the Princess Micomicona；〃 said the curate； 〃for as
her kingdom is Micomicon； it is clear that must be her name。〃
〃There's no doubt of that；〃 replied Sancho； 〃for I have known many
to take their name and title from the place where they were born and
call themselves Pedro of Alcala； Juan of Ubeda； and Diego of
Valladolid； and it may be that over there in Guinea queens have the
same way of taking the names of their kingdoms。〃
〃So it may；〃 said the curate； 〃and as for your master's marrying；
I will do all in my power towards it：〃 with which Sancho was as much
pleased as the curate was amazed at his simplicity and at seeing
what a hold the absurdities of his master had taken of his fancy；
for he had evidently persuaded himself that he was going to be an
emperor。
By this time Dorothea had seated herself upon the curate's mule； and
the barber had fitted the ox…tail beard to his face； and they now told
Sancho to conduct them to where Don Quixote was； warning him not to
say that he knew either the licentiate or the barber； as his
master's becoming an emperor entirely depended on his not
recognising them； neither the curate nor Cardenio； however； thought
fit to go with them； Cardenio lest he should remind Don Quixote of the
quarrel he had with him； and the curate as there was no necessity
for his presence just yet； so they allowed the others to go on
before them； while they themselves followed slowly on foot。 The curate
did not forget to instruct Dorothea how to act； but she said they
might make their minds easy； as everything would be done exactly as
the books of chivalry required and described。
They had gone about three…quarters of a league when they
discovered Don Quixote in a wilderness of rocks； by this time clothed；
but without his armour； and as soon as Dorothea saw him and was told
by Sancho that that was Don Quixote； she whipped her palfrey； the
well…bearded barber following her； and on coming up to him her
squire sprang from his mule and came forward to receive her in his
arms； and she dismounting with great ease of manner advanced to
kneel before the feet of Don Quixote； and though he strove to raise
her up； she without rising addressed him in this fashion：
〃From this spot I will not rise； valiant and doughty knight； until
your goodness and courtesy grant me a boon； which will redound to
the honour and renown of your person and render a service to the
most disconsolate and afflicted damsel the sun has seen； and if the
might of your strong arm corresponds to the repute of your immortal
fame； you are bound to aid the helpless being who； led by the savour
of your renowned name； hath come from far distant lands to seek your
aid in her misfortunes。〃
〃I will not answer a word； beauteous lady；〃 replied Don Quixote；
〃nor will I listen to anything further concerning you； until you
rise from the earth。〃
〃I will not rise； senor；〃 answered the afflicted damsel； 〃unless
of your courtesy the boon I ask is first granted me。〃
〃I grant and accord it；〃 said Don Quixote； 〃provided without
detriment or prejudice to my king； my country； or her who holds the
key of my heart and freedom； it may be complied with。〃
〃It will not be to the detriment or prejudice of any of them； my
worthy lord；〃 said the afflicted damsel； and here Sancho Panza drew
close to his master's ear and said to him very softly； 〃Your worship
may very safely grant the boon she asks； it's nothing at all； only
to kill a big giant； and she who asks it is the exalted Princess
Micomicona； queen of the great kingdom of Micomicon of Ethiopia。〃
〃Let her be who she may；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃I will do what is my
bounden duty； and what my conscience bids me； in conformity with
what I have professed；〃 and turning to the damsel he said； 〃Let your
great beauty rise； for I grant the boon which you would ask of me。〃
〃Then what I ask；〃 said the damsel； 〃is that your magnanimous person
accompany me at once whither I will conduct you； and that you
promise not to engage in any other adventure or quest until you have
avenged me of a traitor who against all human and divine law； has
usurped my kingdom。〃
〃I repeat that I grant it；〃 replied Don Quixote； 〃and so； lady；
you may from this day forth lay aside the melancholy that distresses
you； and let your failing hopes gather new life and strength； for with
the help of God and of my arm you will soon see yourself restored to
your kingdom； and seated upon the throne of your ancient and mighty
realm； notwithstanding and despite of the felons who would gainsay it；
and now hands to the work； for in delay there is apt to be danger。〃
The distressed damsel strove with much pertinacity to kiss his
hands； but Don Quixote； who was in all things a polished and courteous
knight； would by no means allow it； but made her rise and embraced her
with great courtesy and politeness； and ordered Sancho to look to
Rocinante's girths； and to arm him without a moment's delay。 Sancho
took down the armour； which was hung up o
